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  • From: Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>
  • To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [MSAR] Weed free feeds, USA
  • Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 08:39:27 -0600

In the western USA, in the Forest Service's Intermountain Region (R4), as of
2003
all National Forests require weed free feed. This is per the "Weed Free Hay
Order"
(http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/faq/weedfreehay.shtml). MSAR units in this
region
need to be aware that the order specifically exempts organized rescue
resources in
the performance of an official duty.

Other land managers, eg Bureau of Land Management, and other regions within
the
Forest Service, are beginning to follow suit, so this is rapidly becoming an
issue
of concern for all equestrian users of public lands across the US.

Recently, some equestrian events have been cancelled because the requirement
is
being applied in an inconsistent and sometimes unreasonable manner. Eg, one
land
manager required event participants to board horses for 3 days at a commercial
establishment in the area, and to purchase certified weed free feed from a
single
source, also in the area.

Initially, all pellet and cube feeds were considered to be weed-free, but now
the
trend is to consider these feeds to be weed free only if produced from
certified
weed free materials.

Is this weed free feed requirement impacting your MSAR unit? How? What are
you
doing about it?

Una Smith
New Mexico




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